Trynne stood apart from him, far enough that she was out of reach. His eyes went from gazing hotly at hers to glancing down her body to the cylinder in her girdle. His eyebrows twitched with fury as he stared hungrily at it. He wanted it back with a fierce desperation. She had no doubt he would kill her to get it.
She wondered what sort of power his access to the magic gave him, but doubted he would reveal the truth to her intentionally.
“Where did Gahalatine strike? You said last night he would strike in four places at once. Brythonica obviously. Where else?” She knew about Legault, of course, but she wished to see if he would be truthful.
His hands squeezed the bars until his knuckles were white, his brows narrowed scornfully. “Connacht in Legault, Marq in Brugia, and, of course, Edonburick. I tell you this not because I am disloyal to Gahalatine. I am not. I say this because it takes your kingdoms pitifully long to communicate, and you will undoubtedly hear this same news later.”
He was trying to provoke her, and she knew it. “Then no doubt news of your defeat will also travel quickly.”
His teeth clenched and his body trembled with rage. “You will not have power over me for long. Do you intend to execute me? You would be wise to release me. If you give me that scroll, I can be of greater service to you than you can possibly imagine.”
“I doubt you would keep your word,” Trynne said. “I have some questions for you.”
“Give me that scroll,” he said more intently. She felt a push of magic, but it was no more forceful than an infant tugging on her arm.
“I think I’ll keep it,” she answered. “Do you know where they took my father? Do you know where Owen Kiskaddon is being held? I know he’s alive.”
She saw it in his eyes. There was knowledge, there was truth, there was the information she desperately sought. But the low, cruel smile he gave her told her that he would never reveal it to her. That he would rather die than help her.
“Why should I know such a thing?” he said. “My lord Gahalatine did not abduct him. How dare you suggest it.”
“I didn’t suggest that Gahalatine did. I asked you a question.”
“And what would you do to get the answer?” he said smoothly, his voice full of cunning. “Would you betray your king?”
His words cast a shadow on her soul. She wanted to save her father, and she believed that Rucrius knew where he was. But she could do nothing to force him to tell her.
“Tell me,” Trynne said, barely able to control her anger.
“I can bring you to where he was taken,” Rucrius said. “Hold out the Tay al-Ard. We will both touch it together. You cannot go there alone. But I can. I know the way. I will take you there. Hold out the scroll.”
Again, she felt his thoughts pushing against her. They were pushing stronger this time.
Their silent stalemate was broken by the noise of steps coming down the corridor. Trynne turned and saw her father’s herald approaching rapidly.
“My lady. Morwenna Argentine is here.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Revenge
When Trynne reached the audience hall, she found Morwenna walking amidst the debris of cracked floor, gouged pillars, and detritus from the battle with the three Wizrs. The king’s poisoner had a look of wonder and astonishment as she surveyed the damage to the once-tranquil room. None of the palace servants had begun cleaning yet—all their focus had been on rescuing the survivors along the shore.
Morwenna’s hand stretched out and touched one of the fragments of broken stone on the floor. After hefting it in her hand, she set it down and turned as Trynne approached.
“You’re safe,” Morwenna breathed out with a sigh of relief, reaching out and embracing her. “When you did not come to Kingfountain straightaway, the king worried that you too had been abducted. He and the queen bade me to bring you back to the royal castle if you were here.”
Trynne caught her meaning immediately. “Too? Who else has been taken?” She still harbored doubts about Morwenna’s loyalties after seeing the maps and was more interested in gaining information than in sharing it.
Morwenna shook her head, looking saddened. “The Queen of Atabyrion.”
“No!” Trynne gasped in shock.
“Fallon knows,” Morwenna said with a suggestive tone. “He’s beside himself with worry. Gahalatine attacked Edonburick personally. The defenses were no match for him, and the heights were overpowered in short order by those flying troops of his. Queen Elysabeth was snatched away by one of the emperor’s Wizrs. She’s probably already been taken to the Forbidden Court.”